Hey everyone - hope you are doing fine and like Stef said last week - you should be now planning to get outside running!

Today was Around the Bay = 30KM run (some did it as a relay - either 2 x 15 km or 3 x 10 km) - in any case - all was fun. The day was forecast as "not the best" however, for my part there was not even one rain drop hit me

Congrats to all who finished - some pretty respectable times for sure.

My last blog talked about my training and today at ATB, I kept to my word and for the fist time in 12 trips, I kept my own promise to use it as a training run!!! I have been only doing pace and tempo work for the last two weeks, so it was a test for me to see "IF" I could hold close to my marathon (predicted) pace of just under 6 minutes per km - officially ended up at 3:00:56 so success. My splits were even - even through the last 10KM of hills. I am a happy camper. NOW - the real question is can I translate that into a marathon finish on April 23rd? We will see.

Some interesting questions:

Why do I feel better after running?Physical exercise, running included, is known to release endorphins in the brain. Endorphins act as a natural "drug" that make a person more energetic, more awake and, yes, happier. The endorphins can kick in during run, after a workout or both, and are generally referred to as a "runner's high."

Why jogging is good for your health?1. It improves your cardiovascular fitness Aerobic exercise like jogging improves your body's ability to deliver oxygen to your muscles. It also helps your muscles to become more efficient at using that oxygen. The more you exercise it, the better your heart works, and this reduces the risk of a heart attack

What is the difference between a jog and a run?The obvious difference between the two is the pace. Jogging is defined as going at a pace of less than 6 mph, while running is defined as anything faster than 6 mph. Other differences, including how your body burns calories and how your muscles react to the two exercises, define jogging and running.

Is it better to run or walk?Regular cardio (at any speed) is part of a healthy lifestyle. But, lap for lap, running burns about 2.5 times more calories than walking. Running may also help control appetite, so runners may lose more weight than walkers no matter how far the walkers go.